Valve-testing gauge



D 1930. J. STUTIKA VALVE TESTING GAUGE Filed Dec. 21 1927 Chung Patented Dec. 23, 1930 PAT NT QFFFCE omv STUTIKA, or wns'r PULLMAN, ILLINOIS VALVE-TEST NG GAUGE Application filed December 21, 1927. Serial No. 241,613.

This invention relates to valve testing devices, and more particularly to a device for testing the intake andexhaust valves. of internal combustion engines.

I As is well known, internal combustion engines cannot operate at their highest efii ciency when the intake and exhaust valves do not seatperfectly throughout the circumferences of their engaging faces since there is a loss of compression and explosive power, and damage always results to the exhaust valves whenthe latter fail to seat properly during the firing strokes of the engine. There is no visual means of determining whether a valve is seating properly when it is in position in the engine due to the fact that the valve seat entirely surrounds the valve when the latter is in closed position, thus preventing an operator from obtaining a clear View of the valve to determine whether it is firmly seated throughout its circumference.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a device by means of which it may be determined whether a valve face is true and is adapted to seat properly when in closed position in the engine.

A further object is to provide a single valve testing device by means of which valves of varying diameters may be tested.

A further object is toprovide a valve test ing device which is adapted to be made of a single piece material and which is adapted to accommodate valves and valve stems of varying diameters.

A further object is to provide a device of the character referred to which is adapted for use in testing valves having their engaging faces arranged at angles to the axis of the valve stem or at rightangles thereto.

A further object is to provide a device of the above mentioned character having a hold er adapted to receive a valve stem, to support it in proper position, and to provide valve testing faces of material length and width whereby the device is adapted to accommodate valves the engaging faces and stems of which are of varying diameters.

A further object is to provide a device of the character referred to which is adapted to be held in one hand by .the operator and wherein the operator is permitted to hold the valve stem in position in the device with i the thumb of the hand supporting the device, whereby he may employ the other hand for turning the valve stem to determine the accuracy with which the valve is adapted to seat.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description. I

In the drawings I have shown one embodiment of'the invention. In this showing,

Figure l is a face view,

Figure 2 is a side elevation,

Figure 3 is a plan view, and

Figure 4 is a section on line H of Fi ure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates the device as a whole which may be cast, forged or stamped out of a sing piece of material. .The device includes a shank or body 11' which is substantially V- shaped'in cross section as shown in Figure A. At points spaced from its ends, the shank may be provided with guides or valve stem holding recesses 12 which are V-shaped as shown in Figure L, and between the guides, and outwardly thereof, the inner face of the shank is recessed as at 13. It will be apparent that when a valve stem is arranged in bling when in position if it should be slightly bent at a point between the guides.

Above the guides. the body is provided with a pair of outstanding angular arms let, the inner faces 15 of which are of material length and width for a purpose to be described. The faces 15 are arranged at an angle to the axis of a valve stem arranged in the guides, corresponding to the, angularity of the valve faces to be tested. It will be obvious the the faces .15 may be arranged at standard angles, such as or 30 in accordance with the standard practice in manufacturing the engine valves.

The body of the device also is provided at its opposite end with lateral projections 16 having valve engaging lower faces 17 Which are adapted to be used when t 1e valve to be tested is provided with a valve seat engaging face arranged at right angles to the stem of the valve.

The operation of the device is as follows A valve stem is arranged in the guides 12 with the valve its-elf located between the engaging faces 15, when the valve to be tested is of the poppet type having an angular or conical engaging face. lhe operator may {.Irasp the shank 11 in his left hand and place the thumb of the same hand upon the valve s em between the guides 12 to hold the stem in proper position. lVith one or both sides of the valve face engaging either or both of the faces 15, the operator may turn the lovver end of the valve stem slowly with his r q'ht hand, at the same time observing .i ther the valve face engages both of the faces 15. If these faces engaged by both sides of t 1e valve throughout a complete revolution thereof, it obvious that the valve face is true, and that the valve is adapted properlv to function an operating part of the engine. If, during; any portion of the rotation of the valve. only one site thereof engages one of the faces it obvious that the valve is not true. lndcr the latter conditions, if the valve only slightly bent or distorted, it may be ground or turned to a true face, whereupon it will be ready for use. If the distortion is material, it will be advisable of course, to discard the valve and employ a. new valve in its place. When it desired to test a valve havingflat engaging face at right angles to the axis of the stem, it will be apparent that it is merely neces sary to reverse the device to employ the engaging faces 17. A different valve testing device obviously must be employed for valves having engaging faces of varying angularity. It will be apparent that he guides 12 are of material depth, and accordingly these elements are adapted to receive valve stems of varying diameters. The position of valve stem in the guides obviously will be determined by the diameter of the stem, stems of different sizes occupying different positions in the guides. It also Will be apparent that valves secured to stems of varying; diameters Will occupy different positions transversely with respect to the faces 15, and accordingly the latter are made of material width in order to accommodate valves having stems of varying diameters. The valve faces 15 are of material length, and therefore, the device is readily adapted for the testing of valves having engaging faces of different diameters. The device is extremely simple in construction and cheap to manufacture, and the valves are adapted to be quickly and accurately tested. Thus the use of bent or dirtorted valves in an internal combustion engine readily may be avoided, together with the disadvantages incident to the use of such valves. It is comparatively easy therefore, to maintain an engine at its highest operating efficiency so far as the operation of the valves is concerned.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to Without departingfrom the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

I claim:

A device of the character described comprising an elongated unitary body having a substantially V-shaped groove extending throughout the greater portion of its length, a pair of spaced substantially V-shaped relatively deep guides formed in portions of id body upstanding from said groove, said guides each having plane faces intersecting in a line common to both, and a pair of relatively long); arms projecting from one end of said body and having faces of material width disposen diametrically opposite each other, the line of intersection of the faces of said guides foiiing' substantially a. right angle with the line of intersection of the faces of said arms.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. 

